Automatic can-stopper



(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THAYER, or MELROSE, aSSIGNoR TO WILLIAM MINOT, JR, or '1 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC CAN-STOPPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,909, dated April 26, 1887.

Application filed February 5, 1887. Serial No. 226,668. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM HZ THAYER,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Melrose, in the county of MiddleseX and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gan-Stoppers, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a can provided with my improved can-stopper. Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal section on the line AB, shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section on the line C D, also :5 shown in Fig.1. Fig.4 represents a detail View of the handle detached from the can.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

a is the can, made of metal or other suitable material, to the upper end of which is secured, water-tight, in a suitable manner, the neck I), which neck has in its upper end the two diametrically-opposite and inclined or outwardlyprojecting spouts b b, midway between which I make in the neck sides a pair of diametrically-opposite and concave recesses, b b, either of which is adapted to serve as a rest for the spring-pressed valve when raised and held from its seat. By having a pair of diametricallyopposed spouts, I) b, the can may be tipped in either of the two opposite directions while in the act of being emptied, which is a great convenience in the manipulation of the device.

I)" is the concave or tapering valveseat in the central lower portion of the neck I), as shown.

0 is the valve, which is made hollow and spherical, or nearly so, in shape,with an opening, a, in its upper portion, through which the 4,0 thumb or finger of the operator can readily be introduced when it is desired to lift the valve from its seat. From the under side of the valve 0 projects downwardly the valve-rod 0, having an eye, 0 in itslower end, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and to such eye is hinged the wire at, having lower expansive ends or legs, d d, to which the spiral spring 0 is suitably at- .tached, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of said spring being connected to the lower end of the forked bail f, having its upper ends secured in suitable perforations made in the under side of the neck of the can, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus it will be seen that the spiral spring 6 serves to hold the valve 0 onto its seat b and thus to keep the neck of the can closed at 5 5 all times, except when the operator raises the valve preparatory to filling or emptying the can, and this is done by the operator inserting his thumb or one of his fingers into the hollow ball-valve a and raising it sufficiently to allow it to rest in one of the concave recesses b b" in the side of the neck I), as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The wire (I is bent to form a square eye, d, or eye of other convenient shape,which serves 6 5 as a stop to prevent the spring 0 from belng pulled too far when the valve is raised from its seat, the upward motion of the valve 0 being limited by said eye c coming in contact with the upper internal part of the can or the lower part of the neck of the can.

By having the spring 6 attached in its lower end to the forked bail f and the upper ends of the latter secured to the neck b of the can, the spring 6 will draw the valve 0 centrally at all times toward its seat, even if the can should accidentally become dented, so that the neck I) would be out of true with the center line of the can, which object would not be attained if the lower end of the spring e were fastened directly to the bottom of the can itself.

The upper end of the neck I) is made to project above the highest part of the valve, so as to protect the valve from contact with objects liable to open or injure it. To the can I secure the improved handle shown in Figs. 1 and 3, as well as in detail in Fig. 4; and it is composed of a pair of independently-bent wires, 9 g, the lower portions of which are soldered to the can-body at a 0 proper distance apart, as shown, and having their upper ends inserted into the longitudinal perforation in the cylindrical piece G, made of wood or metal or other suitable material, as shown in said Figs. 1,3, and 4, by which ar- 5 rangement the bent wires 9 g are made to form a truss-support of great strength, so as to withstand the rough usage to which cans of this kind are oftentimes exposed.

This my improved automatic can-stopper is :00

a 'seieoe especially designed for trans containing naphtha or other highly-inflammable liquids; but it is equally useful for cans for other purposes, as may be found desirable.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent, and c1aini 1. In combination with the can (6 and its neck 11, having the seat b the hollow spherical valve 0, the spring 0, attached to it, and the spring holder or bail f, attached to the neck I as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The can a audits neck I), having the diametrically-opposed spouts b b and concave valve-rests b b, in combination'with the hol-.

low spherical valve 0, its spring 6, and springsupport f, secured to the neck I), as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The can a and its neck b, with the valveseat b and valve 0, in combination with the Valve-stop cl dd, the spring 6, and spring-supportf, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with the" can a, the'iniproved handle, as described, consisting of the bent Wires g having their lower portions secured at some distance apart to the can-body, and having their upper ends inserted within the longitudinally-perforated wood or metal piece G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The valve 0, having the downwardly-projecting stem 0 and the valvestop d d d, attached to its lower end, combined with the spring 6 and spring-supportf, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification,in the presence of two subscribing witnesscs, on this 29th day of January, A. D. 1887.

WILLIAM H. THAYER.

WVitnesses:

ALBAN ANDREN, J OHN GRAY. 

